Glorious spring, and two equally glorious games -- April 6th -- Day 25
Spring has come to Atlanta, and that was nowhere more evident than during our drive to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum, which is part of the Carter Center located on a beautifully landscaped 35 acre park east of downtown Atlanta. Perhaps sensing our angst about another experience with the Atlanta freeway system, our GPS routed us through a series of residential areas where the trees were green (mostly Georgia pines supplemented with some deciduous trees sporting new leaves) and many flowering plants were in full bloom. The museum was practically deserted when we arrived around 10 a.m., so much so that we initially thought it might be closed, but as a result we enjoyed an uncrowded unhurried visit. The museum traces Carter's early history as the son of a peanut farmer to a Naval officer in the nuclear submarine fleet to his return home and the beginnings of his political career, to his campaign for and service as the 39th president (including a replica of the Oval Office). It also highlights the efforts of the Carter Center to address major global issues, including election reform, health care and, spearheaded by Rosalynn Carter, mental health. By the time we finished our tour the sun was shining brightly in a clear blue sky, and the temperature was a very pleasant 68, quite a change from the low 20s and snow flurries we encountered in Michigan and Buffalo a mere two weeks ago. In the afternoon we connected with Jon & Annette Manger, who we had met two years ago at the Final Four in Houston. Jon is a Duke alum (and thus the connection) and we had an enjoyable lunch and a less enjoyable but successful trip to the games on Atlanta's rapid transit system, MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transportation Authority). As some of you may know, MARTA was built, at least initially, largely with federal funds that had been programmed for Seattle, but Seattle voters narrowly defeated a referendum that would have authorized construction and operation of the system, and the money went to Atlanta instead. Not surprisingly, the combination of the two upcoming games, a series of free outdoor concerts being held near the stadium, and the spring weather brought out large crowds, and we were barely able to find standing room on the train. Once we emerged we found the festival atmosphere that is common to large sporting events, and joined the crowds heading for the Georgia Dome, site of the games. The first game of the evening featured the dark horse Shockers from Wichita State and the tournament favorite, Louisville. The Shockers lived up to their name for most of the game, leading by as many as 12 points well into the second half, but Louisville did not quit, and aided by strong play from some of their bench players came back to win a very exciting game by 72-68. The game ran longer than expected, and as a result the second game between our Michigan Wolverines and the Syracuse Orange didn't get underway until around 9:15, about 30 minutes later than scheduled. Although Michigan's start was a little shaky, they soon figured out the Orange's vaunted zone defense, and took a strong, but not commanding lead into the second half. Syracuse chipped away at the lead, but when they got close Michigan would pull out again, but the Wolverines' customarily good free throw shooting abandoned them, allowing the Orange to draw close again as time was winding down. We and most of the 75 thousand others present were on our feet and in full throat during the agonizing last 3 minutes until Michigan scored with about 4 seconds left to put the game away, 61-56. By this time it was 12:30 Sunday morning and by the time we could find a place to stand on a northbound train, we finally arrived back at the condo around 2 a.m., exhausted but excited for Monday night's final game.
Spring has come to Atlanta, and that was nowhere more evident than during our drive to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum, which is part of the Carter Center located on a beautifully landscaped 35 acre park east of downtown Atlanta. Perhaps sensing our angst about another experience with the Atlanta freeway system, our GPS routed us through a series of residential areas where the trees were green (mostly Georgia pines supplemented with some deciduous trees sporting new leaves) and many flowering plants were in full bloom. The museum was practically deserted when we arrived around 10 a.m., so much so that we initially thought it might be closed, but as a result we enjoyed an uncrowded unhurried visit. The museum traces Carter's early history as the son of a peanut farmer to a Naval officer in the nuclear submarine fleet to his return home and the beginnings of his political career, to his campaign for and service as the 39th president (including a replica of the Oval Office). It also highlights the efforts of the Carter Center to address major global issues, including election reform, health care and, spearheaded by Rosalynn Carter, mental health. By the time we finished our tour the sun was shining brightly in a clear blue sky, and the temperature was a very pleasant 68, quite a change from the low 20s and snow flurries we encountered in Michigan and Buffalo a mere two weeks ago. In the afternoon we connected with Jon & Annette Manger, who we had met two years ago at the Final Four in Houston. Jon is a Duke alum (and thus the connection) and we had an enjoyable lunch and a less enjoyable but successful trip to the games on Atlanta's rapid transit system, MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transportation Authority). As some of you may know, MARTA was built, at least initially, largely with federal funds that had been programmed for Seattle, but Seattle voters narrowly defeated a referendum that would have authorized construction and operation of the system, and the money went to Atlanta instead. Not surprisingly, the combination of the two upcoming games, a series of free outdoor concerts being held near the stadium, and the spring weather brought out large crowds, and we were barely able to find standing room on the train. Once we emerged we found the festival atmosphere that is common to large sporting events, and joined the crowds heading for the Georgia Dome, site of the games. The first game of the evening featured the dark horse Shockers from Wichita State and the tournament favorite, Louisville. The Shockers lived up to their name for most of the game, leading by as many as 12 points well into the second half, but Louisville did not quit, and aided by strong play from some of their bench players came back to win a very exciting game by 72-68. The game ran longer than expected, and as a result the second game between our Michigan Wolverines and the Syracuse Orange didn't get underway until around 9:15, about 30 minutes later than scheduled. Although Michigan's start was a little shaky, they soon figured out the Orange's vaunted zone defense, and took a strong, but not commanding lead into the second half. Syracuse chipped away at the lead, but when they got close Michigan would pull out again, but the Wolverines' customarily good free throw shooting abandoned them, allowing the Orange to draw close again as time was winding down. We and most of the 75 thousand others present were on our feet and in full throat during the agonizing last 3 minutes until Michigan scored with about 4 seconds left to put the game away, 61-56. By this time it was 12:30 Sunday morning and by the time we could find a place to stand on a northbound train, we finally arrived back at the condo around 2 a.m., exhausted but excited for Monday night's final game.
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